Seagate FireCuda Forge 8TB and 20TB external drives launch starting at $699

Seagate introduced the FireCuda Forge, bringing a hybrid solid-state and mechanical drive concept back to external storage. Powered by the Alkemi dynamic caching platform, the device combines a high-capacity hard drive with a user-supplied M.2 NVMe SSD to automatically prioritize frequently accessed files.

Image: ComputerBase

The drive comes in 8 TB and 20 TB capacities, starting at $699 and $899 respectively. It measures roughly 24 cm long, 15 cm wide, and 6.5 cm high, weighing nearly 2 kg while running on an external power adapter. Connecting via USB-C with USB4 support on compatible systems, Seagate says it delivers transfer speeds up to 2,500 MB/s read and 2,000 MB/s write.

Users must supply and install their own M.2 2280 SSD after removing the enclosure lid. Seagate recommends a PCIe 3.0 drive with a maximum capacity of 1 TB, a minimum read speed of 2,400 MB/s, a minimum write speed of 2,000 MB/s, and a built-in DRAM cache. The enclosure supports Windows 11 and macOS 26 or newer. Availability varies by market.